What do rabbits like

Remember, hay and grass are much more important and should make up the majority of your rabbit's diet. See: make feeding time fun. Find out how to use dietary enrichment to improve your rabbit's welfare. Recognising pet obesity, the associated health risks and how to prevent them.

Share this What can rabbits eat? Print What can rabbits eat? Mirrors - where rabbits have to be kept singly, a mirror may offer some comfort, particularly for females. However, the effects can be quite short-lived so it's only recommended for use temporarily to alleviate loneliness.

If providing mirrors, ensure they're securely fastened to avoid injury. Objects to manipulate or throw - e. Solid plastic baby toys e. Ensure there are no small parts that could be swallowed and supervise their use. Digging opportunities - many domestic rabbits will perform this behaviour so try providing them with some form of 'digging box'. Safe places for rabbits to dig include large plant pots or litter trays filled with earth, cardboard boxes filled with shredded paper or sandpits filled with child-friendly sand.

Most rabbits will sleep from around am until about pm, getting somewhere around 6 hours of sleep in the afternoon. I find that younger rabbits, especially, have trouble sleeping for long hours and will be up for half an hour here and there during the day.

The evening will look a lot like the morning activity session. Your rabbit will get up and eat around pm and then continue to be active until pm, sometimes even later. This is a great time of day for playtime and socialization. You can also play games with your rabbit or just let them spend time around you while watching TV in the evening. Here are some ideas for helping you bond with your rabbit so they can be like a companion animal for you. The more your rabbit is able to explore and use their pent-up energy during this time, the more likely they are to sleep through the night.

So if your rabbit likes to wake up at 3 am, try to let them out of their enclosure more during the times of day they will be more naturally active.

Rabbits will typically sleep through the darkest parts of the night. My rabbits go to sleep after me but seem to settle down around 11 pm. Most rabbits will go to sleep between pm. Like afternoon nap time, many rabbits will periodically get up to stretch and eat in the middle of the night. Some people struggle with rabbits who make a lot of noise and wake them up in the middle of the night. In these cases, I advise trying to stick to a consistent daily routine with your rabbit.

Get up at the same time every day and feed them right away. They will get used to the schedule and learn the time of day that you always wake up and feed them. Otherwise, you want to make sure that your rabbit has plenty of time out of their enclosure to exercise every day. Aim for at least hours of exercise time, but more is always better. House rabbits will always adjust their schedule depending on when they are fed and when there is more activity in the home.

For example, even though rabbits will typically sleep through the afternoon, my Elusive learned that lunchtime is a great time of day to beg for treats from me.

Then she will maintain activity for another hour or so before going back to sleep. Similarly, if you stay up late at night with your rabbit, you might find that they adjust their schedule to stay up with you and get up later in the morning. This is more common if you have a consistent daily schedule, getting up at the same time every day.

This way, your rabbit will know what to expect from you and naturally adjust their schedule to fit yours so they can be ready for breakfast. Rabbits will also react to activity in the home. If you get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, you may find that your rabbit gets up too. Learn more about the benefits of having a daily routine for your rabbit. Allow 5 - 7 days before making any other additions. Always wash food first and don't feed plants from roadsides or that contain pesticides.

The first rule of feeding bunnies and their delicate tummies is: if in doubt - don't let them eat it! Rabbits have strong tastebuds and will try anything even if it's poisonous - it's up to you to protect them! The following list was taken from the RWAF website. A good guideline is to feed a minimum of 1 cup of vegetables for each 4 lbs of body weight per day. Fruits should be fed in moderation due to sugar content up to 2 tablespoons worth per day.